Imaging of Inflammation by PET, Conventional Scintigraphy, and Other Imaging Techniques

¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan of patient with proven Escherichia coli infection of vascular graft. Focal, intense uptake of ¹⁸F-FDG (arrows) is sign of infection, in comparison with more diffusely increased physiologic uptake along graft.

¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan of patient with FUO after placement of aortic stent for treatment of aneurysm of thoracic aorta. Stent infection was considered most likely cause of FUO, but ¹⁸F-FDG PET showed bilaterally increased uptake in region of dorsal hip muscles related to abscess formation (arrows). This scan demonstrates value of whole-body PET in patients with FUO.

Patient with a history of FUO. Physical examination and ultrasonography of temporal artery were negative. Erythrocyte sedimentation and C-reactive protein were elevated; otherwise, laboratory parameters did not indicate vasculitis. ¹⁸F-FDG PET scan shows increased uptake in thoracic aorta and subclavian arteries (left), carotid arteries (middle), and abdominal aorta together with iliac arteries (right) (arrows). Vasculitis was diagnosed. This example supports role of PET for detection of vasculitis as underlying cause of FUO.

¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT scan of patient with sarcoidosis. Maximal-intensity projection on left side gives overview of sites of disease, including cervical area, axillae (green arrows), mediastinum (blue arrows), and inguinal lymph nodes (red arrows).